The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has concluded a series of high-level strategy meetings ahead of filing an appeal against the Federal High Court judgment that nullified the party's registration.
The emergency meetings brought together the party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi, National Leader Seriake Dickson, members of the National Working Committee and other senior stakeholders as they mapped out their legal response.
A senior party official, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to speak publicly, said the leadership held back-to-back meetings over the weekend to finalise preparations before approaching the Court of Appeal on Monday.
According to the source, another emergency meeting was held on Sunday to fine-tune the party's legal strategy.
He added that while the identity of the lead counsel had not been made public, the party's National Legal Adviser, Reuben Egwuaba, would play a major role in the appeal.
The party's National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, confirmed that the appeal would be filed on Monday but declined to reveal the legal team leading the case.
He described the Lokoja judgment as unprecedented, insisting it lacked legal foundation and expressing confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn it.
According to him, the ruling was another attempt to weaken Nigeria's democratic process and shrink the political space ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Enekweizu maintained that the NDC and all its candidates, including Peter Obi, his running mate Rabiu Kwankwaso and candidates for other elective positions, would remain on the ballot for the 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, former Kano State governor and National Leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, expressed confidence that the party would overcome its legal challenges.
Speaking after visiting Seriake Dickson in Abuja, Kwankwaso said the meeting focused on strengthening the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
He urged members and supporters not to lose hope, saying the NDC remained committed to the rule of law and had confidence in the judicial process.
National Chairman of the party, Moses Cleopas, also dismissed the judgment as politically motivated, saying the party had anticipated legal challenges and was prepared to confront them.
He stressed that the party remained united and stronger despite the setback.
According to another party source, the NDC has also launched a wider public engagement campaign that will involve civil society groups, professional bodies and the media to build public support for its position.
Dickson, during an interview on Channels Television, appealed to party members and candidates not to panic over the ruling.
He assured them that the NDC had not been deregistered and insisted all candidates would participate in the 2027 elections.
He also said the party would pursue all legal options rather than file complaints against the judge who delivered the ruling.
The Obidient Movement and the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement also backed the decision to appeal, insisting the judgment would not stop the opposition from contesting the next general election.
Read Also:
NEC Awaits Certified Court Judgment Before Taking Action on NDC Registration
The Ondo State chapter of the NDC equally rejected the court ruling, arguing that the party had operated legally since INEC registered it and had already completed congresses, primaries and preparations for the 2027 polls.
Senior lawyers also weighed in on the matter.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adedayo Adedeji, said the Federal High Court was not the final authority and that the party had a constitutional right to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
Another SAN, Itse Sagay, said the appeal was likely to receive accelerated hearing because of its national importance, while warning judges against issuing decisions capable of determining political participation.
Adelola Adedipe (SAN) explained that the ruling merely set aside the earlier order that enabled the party's registration and did not amount to a final deregistration of the NDC.
He noted that the substantive case was still pending and that the party could still seek relief through the appellate process.
